Temperature sensitive metering device



Oct. 31, 1961 C. C. BAUERLEIN TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE METERING DEVICEFiled Sept. 21, 1959 Erg. 1 g

3 Sheets-Sheet l Ezazzfar Car/ C Bauer/e177 Oct. 31, 1961 c. c.BAUERLEIN 3,006,507

TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE METERING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 2 14 Car/ C. Bauer/e/n Oct. 31, 1961 c. c. BAUERLEIN3,006,507

TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE METERING DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet .5

Car/ C. Bauer/em United States This invention is directed to a slugvalve of the type which is used to dispense a measured volume of fluidinto an ice tray or the like in an automatic ice making apparatus and ismore particularly directed to a new and improved form of slug valveutilizing a reciprocably movable piston rather than a flexible resilientbag and to a means for controlling the temperature of fluid dispensedfrom the valve and for controlling the flow of fluid through the valveas a function of the fluid temperature therein.

In general, slug valves comprise a hollow valve body having an inlet andan outlet and having a volumetrically variable chamber thereincommunicable with the inlet and the outlet. Fluid is directed throughthe inlet into the chamber within the valve body and thereafter theinlet is closed, the outlet is opened, and the volumetric capacity ofthe chamber within the valve body is decreased to expel the fluidtherein through the outlet to a point of utilization.

In some types of ice making devices it is desirable, for reasons whichneed not be outlined here, to dispense heated fluid to the ice tray. Inorder to effect heating of the fluid it has generally been the practiceto provide a heater means for the fluid supply conduit at a pointremotely located from the slug valve and to continuously energize theheater means or to effect energization of the heater for predeterminedintervals of time by a timer mechanism or through some other independentmeans.

It has also generally been the practice to control fluid flow throughthe inlet and the outlet from the slug valve by means of a pair ofindependently actuatable solenoids.

Difficulties have, however, been encountered in the past in such typesof slug valves for several reasons. The utilization of a flexible bagwithin the slug valve body to provide a means for increasing anddecreasing the volumetric capacity of the fluid chamber therein ishampered by the fact that the life of the bag is relatively short.

Furthermore, the utilization of two solenoids for the slug valveincreases the cost of the valve since solenoids are relatively quiteexpensive. With regard to the heater coil for effecting heating of thefluid within the slug valve it is, of course, uneconomical to run theheater at all times While, on the other hand, the provision of anindependent switch means for effecting energization and deenergizationof the heater coil adds to the cost of the composite slug valve.

In order to obviate the foregoing disadvantageous features of prior slugvalves, I have devised a slug valve wherein a reciprocable piston isutilized within the slug valve to provide a means for increasing anddecreasing the volumetric capacity of the valve as desired and wherein athermal sensitive snap action mechanism is utilized not only to open andclose the outlet valve but also to effect energization anddeenergization of the inlet solenoid and the heater coil.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have illusatent O trated inthe drawings, a valve is cooperable with a flow port on the upstreamside thereof to control fluid flow through the port. A valve stemextends from the valve through the port to the downstream side thereofand is sealed by means of a flexible diaphragm, bonded thereto, to thecontainer body.

The valve stem is loosely guided within the port so that fluid may flowaround the stem Within the port to a chamber disposed intermediate aportion of the wall of the container and the flexible diaphragm and thenthrough an outlet communicable with that chamber.

I contemplate using a snap actuator mechanism having a snap bladecooperable with the valve stem to effect axial movement of the valvestem to thereby move the valve away from the flow port in an upstreamdirection to permit fluid flow through the port and consequently throughthe outlet from the container as a function of controlled actuation ofthe snap actuator.

The snap actuator is actuated as a function of the temperature of thefluid within the container or slug valve body by means of a thermallyresponsive element which is secured within a wall of the valve body inheat transfer relation with the fluid therein.

The power member or piston which is extensible from the thermallysensitive element upon increases in ambient temperature conditionsaround the heat sensing portion thereof is connected to a snap lever ofthe snap actuator. In the embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawings the snap lever of the snap actuator is so pivotally mountedthat pivotal movement thereof caused by axial movement of the powermember of the thermal sensitive element acting through an over-centerspring, pivotally moves the snap blade with a relatively great force toaxially move the valve stem and the valve against the opposing biasingforce of pressurized fluid within the container away from the valve portto openly communicate the interior of the container with the outlet.

The valve is disposed on the upstream side of the port so that thepressure of fluid within the container normally acts to maintain thevalve in a seated relation with respect to the port to shut off fluidflow from the interior of the container to the outlet.

A piston is slidable disposed within the hollow interior of the valvebody and is sealed to the walls thereof, being biased toward one end ofthe chamber by a relatively strong spring.

A solenoid is utilized for controlling fluid flow through the slug valveinlet. Upon energization of the inlet solenoid, fluid flows through theinlet into the chamber and the pressure of incoming fluid acts to movethe piston within the valve body against the opposing biasing force ofthe spring to increase the volumetric capacity of the chamber until thespring has been compressed to its maximum.

A heater coil is wound about the thermally conductive walls of the slugvalve body and is energizable in a manner which will hereinafter becomeapparent to effect heating of the fluid within the slug valve chamberprior to its passage through the outlet.

Upon opening of the outlet valve in the manner which has above beendescribed, the spring acting against the piston will act to force thefluid within the slug valve body out through the outlet.

In order to simplify the operation of the slug valve and to greatlyreduce the cost of its production, both the inlet solenoid and theheater coil are energizable through the movement of the snap blade. Thesnap blade is electrically conductive and constitutes a movableelectrical contact which is associated with a stationary electricalcontact disposed at a point adjacent the end of the pivotal stroke ofthe snap blade. In this manner, when the snap blade is pivoted by axialextensible movement of the power member associated with the thermalsensitive element to a point to open the outlet valve and permit fluidflow through the outlet, the contact is broken and the inlet solenoidand heater coil are simultaneously deenergized so that the inlet valveis closed simultaneously with deenergization of the heater coil andfluid is then expelled through the slug valve outlet.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide anew and improved slug valve which is of simple construction and whichmay be economically manufactured.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a poppetvalve for controlling fluid flow through a flow port in a containerwhich is controllably moved by a thermally sensitive snap actuator.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of aslug valve of the class generally set forth above wherein the snapactuator which is operable to control fluid flow through the outlet isalso operable to control the energization of the heater coil and theinlet solenoid.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to timeas the following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a slug valve constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the valve illustrated inFIG. 1 and taken along lines IIII of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the slug valve illustrated inFIG. 1 which is similar in nature to FIG. 2, but which shows the piston,outlet valve, and valve actuator mechanism in different positions;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental vertical sectional view through the inlet portand inlet diaphragm valve taken along lines IV-IV of FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of a wiring circuit which might beemployed in the present device.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a slugvalve is shown as comprising a valve body including an upper section 11and a lower section 12 which are sealed together in fluid tight relationby means of an annular bead 13.

The lower section 12 comprises a cylinder of heat conducting materialwhich has an inturned annular rim 14 extending therefrom at the oppositeend of the cylinder from the upper section 11. A piston 15 is slidablyfitted within the cylinder and is formed in the shape of an invertedcup. An annular resilient sealing ring 16 is seated on the upper surfaceof the piston 15 with its outer periphery disposed in slidableengagement with the inner Wall of the cylinder 12. A circular plate 17is seated on a central raised portion 18 of the piston 15 and is rivetedthereto by means of rivets 19. The plate 17, in conjunction with thestepped portion of the piston 15 forms an annular groove 2% whichreceives the inner annular surface of the sealing ring 16.

An annular boss 22 depends from the lower surface of the upper section11 and extends within the interior of the cylinder 12, acting as a stopto limit the degree of upward movement of the piston 15. A relativelyheavy compression spring 23 is disposed Within the cylinder 12 havingits lower end seated on the inturned rim 14 and having its upper enddisposed in engagement with the piston 15 to bias the piston intoengagement with the annular depending boss 22. When pressurized fluidflows into the chamber 35, the spring 23 is compressed as the piston isurged to the lower end of the cylinder 12 until the piston has moved toits lowermost extent where its skirt or base portion engages inturnedstops or nibs 15a.

As shown in FIGURE 4, boss 24 is formed integrally with the uppersection 11 and has an inlet passage 25 formed therein which iscommunicable with an annular inlet chamber 26 formed in the upper end ofthe upper section 11. The inlet passage 25 has a radially enlargedportion 28 formed within the boss 24 which is adapted to encompass afilter screen 29 placed therein to filter water flowing into the inletpassage 25 from a similar passage formed within a connecting nipple 30which is attached to the hollow boss 24.

An upstanding boss 31 is formed at the upper end of the upper section 11centrally of the annular fluid inlet chamber 26, and has an inlet port33 leading therethrough to communicate fluid from the fluid inletchamber 26 to the main fluid chamber 35 within the slug valve 10 whichis formed intermediate the lowermost portion of the upper section 11 andthe piston 15.

An annular groove 36 is formed about the annular fluid inlet chamber 26which serves as a seat for an annular peripheral depending lip 37 of afluid pressure actuated diaphragm valve 38. The diaphragm valve 38 iscooperable with the port 33 to control fluid flow therethrough from theannular fluid inlet chamber in a manner which is well known in the art,and is controlled by an electrically retractable armature 39 which formsa composite part of an inlet solenoid 40. As is now well known, uponenergization of the solenoid 40, the armature 39 moves out of engagementwith the diaphragm 38. Since the flow area through the central aperturewithin the diaphragm is greater than the flow area through itsperipheral bleed aperture, the diaphragm is raised off of its seat byfluid pressure differential to permit fluid to flow from passage 26 toport 33. The diaphragm is similarly closed by fluid pressuredifferential upon deenergization of the solenoid 40 but, since thisforms no part of the present invention, it will not here be furtherdescribed.

An outlet flow port 44 opens through one Wall of the upper section 11 toa chamber 45 which, in turn, opens to an outlet 46 which terminates in aconnecting nipple 47 formed integrally with the upper section 11.

A valve 50, being formed in the configuration of a truncated cone isdisposed adjacent the point where the port 44 opens to the chamber 35 insuch a manner that the conical wall 51 of the valve is cooperable withthe Wall of the upper section 11 defining the port 44 to control fluidflow therethrough.

Assuming that the normal flow of fluid is from the chamber 35 throughthe port 44, chamber 45, and thence through the outlet 46, the valve 50may be described as being cooperable with the port 44 on the upstreamside thereof.

A valve stem 52 is formed integrally with the truncated valve 50 andextends upwardly from the valve 50 within the port 44. The diameter ofthe valve stem 52 is considerably less than the diameter of the port 44so that when the valve stem and its associated valve 50 are moved to theposition illustrated in FIG. 3, fluid can flow past the valve 50 throughthe port 44 in the passageway formed intermediate the valve stem 52 andthe wall of the upper section 11 defining the port 44 to the chamber 45.

A flexible annular diphragm 53, which may be formed of rubber or otherknown resilient materials, has a pcripheral bead 54 formed thereon whichis adapted to be seated in an annular groove 55, formed within the uppersection 11 coaxially with and extending around the cylindrical chamber45. It will thus be observed that the diaphragm 53 in conjunction with aportion of the upper section 11 serves to define the chamber 45. Thediaphragm 53 is centrally apertured as at 57 to receive the upper endportion of the valve stem 52. In order to maintain a fluid tight sealbetween the chamber 45 and the outer surface of the diaphragm 53, thediaphragm 53 is bonded to the stem 52 at the central aperture 57.

A cap 58 having a depending annular ring 59 is seated over the diaphragm53 so that the depending annular ring 59 seats against the peripheraledge of the diaphragm 53 to maintain a fluid tight seal between thediaphragm and the upper section 11. The cap 58 may, of course, be seatedin the position illustrated in the drawings by any suitable means.

The cap 58 is centrally apertured as at 60 to loosely receive the upperfree end portion of the valve stem 52. The valve stem 52 is formed ofsuflicient length so that when the stem is depressed to the positionillustrated in FIG. 3, the upper free end portion of the stem will stillextend exteriorly of the cap 58.

Assuming that pressurized fluid is disposed within the chamber 35 andthat the valve member 50 is initially in the position illustrated inFIG. 2, communication between the chamber 35 and the outlet 46 will beclosed. However, upon depression of the valve stem 52 the diaphragm 53will flex downwardly and the stem 52 will axially move the valve 50 awayfrom the wall of the supper section 1 1 defining the port 44 to theposition illustrated in FIG. 3 to permit the passage of fluid from thechamber 35 through the port 44 to the chamber 45 and thence through theoutlet 46.

Upon release of the downwardly directed force tending to hold the valvestem in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the inherent resiliency ofthe diaphragm 53 act to return the valve 50 and its associated valvestem 52 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2. Upon closure of the valve50 relative to the port 45 the pressure of fluid acting against the flatface of the valve 50 will be effective to maintain the valve in a portclosing position.

It will be understood that the fluid pressure differential on the valveitself in conjunction with the force of fluid acting on the underside ofthe diaphragm 53 will also act to bias the valve 50 to a port closingposition. I have found, however, that the resiliency of the diaphragm isnecessary to close the valve due to the fluid turbulence created at themouth of the port when the valve is in a port opened position.

An L-shaped bracket or stirrup 65 is mounted on the upper section 11 andhas an upturned arm 66 extending therefrom which terminates in a rolledfinger 67. A second bracket 68 is L-shaped in configuration and has anupstanding forked end 69.

A snap blade 70 has a forked end 71 which is pivotally secured to theupturned forked end of the L-shaped bracket 68 so that the snap blade 70can have pivotal movement with respect to the bracket 68.

A snap lever 73 is also substantially L-shaped in configuration and hasa depending free end portion 75. The snap lever 73 also has a pair ofdepending tabs 76 (only one of which is visible in the drawings) whichhave a pivot pin 77 journaled for rotatable movement therein. The pivotpin 77 is, in turn, secured within the upstanding curled arm 66 so thatthe snap lever 73 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 65.

An over-center spring 80 has its opposite ends secured within aperturesformed in the free ends of the snap blade 70 and the snap lever 73 inthe usual manner which is well known in the art. The spring 80 is alwaysunder tension so that when the snap lever 73 is in the positionillustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the point of connection of the spring 80with the lever 73 is disposed above a straight construction lineextending through the point of connection of the spring with the snapblade 80 and through the pivotal point of the blade 70, the snap bladewill be disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 2. Conversely, whenthe point of connection of the snap lever 73 with the spring 80 is movedto a point below the construction line hereinbefore mentioned, the snapblade 80 will be snapped from the position illustrated in FIG. 2

to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 by the over center spring 80.

It will be noted that when the snap blade 70 is pivotally snapped fromthe position illustrated in FIG. 2 to the position illustrated in FIG.3, the pivotal movement thereof acts against the protruding end portionof the valve stem 22 to axially move the valve stem to thereby move thevalve head 50 away from the port 44 to permit fluid flow from thechamber 35 through the port 44 and subsequently to the outlet 46.

As will hereinafter be described, the means utilized for effectingpivotal movement of the snap lever 73 is operable as a function of thetemperature of fluid within the chamber 35.

The upper section 11 is apertured as at 82 to receive a thermalsensitive power element 83. The thermal sensitive power element 83 is ofthe type which is well known in the art and includes a sensing portion84 which may have a fusible thermally expansible material disposedtherein. Upon increases in the ambient temperature about the sensingportion 84 to a point above the critical temperature of the thermalsensitive material within the sensing portion 84, the material willexpand and thereby act to extensibly move a power member or a piston 85,slidably mounted within the guide portion of the element 83, from theelement.

A hollow cylindrical cap 87 is threadedly mounted on the element 83 andi engageable, at its lower edge, with an annular shoulder 88 to draw upthe element tightly against the inner surface of the upper section 11and to provide a means for retaining a return spring 89 therein.

The return spring 89 is seated at one end against the end of thecylindrical cap 87 and is seated at its opposite end on a retainer disc90 which issecured to a raidially reduced portion 91 of the power memberor piston 85. The spring 89 acts to return the power member or piston 85to its retracted position illustrated in FIG. 2 as the ambienttemperature about the sensing portion 84 of the element 83 decreases toa temperature less than the critical temperature of the thermalsensitive material within the element 83.

The power member 85 has a radially reduced upper end portion 94 whichprotrudues from the cap 87 even when the piston 85 is in its mostretracted position, with which the actuating end of the snap lever 73 isloosely connected. As a result, axial movement of the power member 85will effect pivotal movement of the snap lever 73.

The snap blade 70 constitutes the movable contact of an electricalswitch which is cooperable with the stationany contact 95 aflixed to thebracket 65. It is preferable that the electrical connection to themovable contact or snap blade 76 be made to the bracket 68 so thatelectrical energy will travel through the bracket 68 and thence to thesnap blade 70 at the point of contact of the blade with the bracket 68.In this manner freedom of movement of the snap blade will not beimpaired. Thus, when the snap blade 70 is in the position illustrated inFIG. 3, the circuit through the contacts will be open while uponmovement of the snap blade to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 theelectrical circuit will be closed. As a result, the contact 95 isinsulated from the bracket 65 by an insulating member 95a.

A resistance heater coil 100, which may be embedded within a protectiveheat conducting sheathing, is wound about the exterior of the cylinder12 to provide a means for heating the fluid disposed within the chamber35 prior to the passage thereof through the outlet. The heater coil,like the solenoid coil 102 which is operable to effect flow controllingmovement of the inlet valve, is energized through the snap switch andthrough a mold thermostat switch from a power source 101 as is clearlyshown in the diagrammatic representation of the wiring diagram for theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5 the resistance heater coil and the solenoid coil 102are wired in parallel and are energized through a pair of seriallyconnected switches. The switch indicated at 104 may comprise the snapaction switch which has hereinbefore been described, while the switchindicated at 105 may comprise a mold thermostatic switch or a simpleline switch.

In view of the foregoing detailed description of the operation of theindividual components of the slug valve, the operation of the entiredevice might be described as follows:

Upon closure of the line switch or mold thermostatic 105 (and assumingthat the snap switch 104 is in the closed circuit positon) the resistorheater coil 100 and the solenoid coil 102 will be substantiallysimultaneously energized. Energization of the solenoid coil 102 willeffect retractible movement of the armature 39 to permit fluid pressureoperation of the inlet diaphragm valve 38, thereby permittingpressurized fluid to flow from the inlet 28 into the fluid chamber 35wtihin the slug valve body. As fluid flows into the chamber 35 thepiston will be moved downwardly within the cylinder 12 against theopposing biasing force of the compression spring 23 until the piston andspring have been moved to their lower limit. At the same time, theresistor heater 100 (energized simultaneously with energization of thesolenoid coil 102) will act through the heat conducting walls of thecylinder 12 to heat the fluid within the chamber 35. During thisinterval it is assumed that the ice tray will be prepared for anotherfilling operation.

When the temperature of fluid within the chamber 35 has reached thecritical temperature of the fusible thermally expansible material withinthe thermal sensitive element 83, the power member 85 will moveextensibly from the element to pivotally move the snap lever 73 aboutits pivotal connection point to the bracket 65 and the snap blade 70will be snapped from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 3. Such pivotal movement of the snap blade 70 willact to depressionally move the valve stem 60 to permit fluid flow fromthe chamber 35 through the outlet port and thence through the outlet.

Simultaneously, upon pivotal movement of the snap blade 70, the switch104 will be disposed in the open circuit position thus causingdeenergization of the solenoid coil 102 and the resistor heater 100.When the solenoid coil 102 is deenergized the inlet diaphragm valve willclose by fluid pressure differential as is well known in the art. Thecompression spring 23 acting against the piston 15 will then act toforce the fluid within the chamber 35 through the outlet port 44 andthence through the outlet and will urge the piston 15 upwardly withinthe cylinder 12 until it abuts the depending annular boss 22. Inasmuchas the resistor heater 100 is deenergized the thermal sensitive elementwill be permitted to cool and upon cooling of the fusible thermallyexpansible material therein the spring acting against the retainer 90 onthe power member 85 will act to retractably move the power member withrespect to the main body portion of the thermal sensitive element toreturn the snap lever and the snap blade to the positions illustrated inFIG. 2 to prepare the slug valve for another cycle of operation.

In this manner the thermally operable snap action switch mechanism iseffective not only to control opening and closure of the inlet valve,but also opening and closure of the outlet valve and energization anddeenergization of the heater coil at the proper times.

It will, of course, be understood that this embodiment of the inventionhas been used for illustrative purposes only and that variousmodifications and variations of the present invention may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel conceptsthereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fluid control valve comprising a valve body having a fluid chamberand having inlet and outlet ports opening to said chamber adjacent oneend thereof, a movable wall defining a portion of said chamber andmovable to vary the volumetric capacity thereof, valve means associatedwith each of said ports being energizable to permit fluid flowtherepast, means for heating the fluid contained within said chamber,and means operable to effect energization of one of said valve means andsimultaneous deenergization of the other of said valve means as afunction of the temperature of fluid within said chamber.

2. A fluid control valve comprising a valve body having a fluid chamberand having inlet and outlet ports opening to said chamber adjacent oneend thereof, a movable wall defining a portion of said chamber, andmovable to vary the volumetric capacity thereof, valve means associatedwith each of said ports being energizable to permit fluid flowtherepast, heater means disposed in heat transfer relation with theinterior of said chamber, and means operable to effect energization ofone of said valve means and simultaneous deenergization of the other ofsaid valve means and energization of said heater means when said inletvalve means is energized, as a function of the temperature of fluidwithin the said chamber.

3. A fluid control valve comprising a valve body ha ing a fluid chamberand having inlet and outlet ports opening to said chamber adjacent oneend thereof, a movable wall defining a portion of said chamber andmovable to vary the volumetric capacity thereof, valve means at saidinlet port being energizable to permit fluid flow theretnrough, a poppetvalve cooperable with the upstream side of said outlet port normallydisposed in a port closing position by the pressure of the fluid withinsaid chamber, heater means associated with said chamber for heating thefluid contained therein, an electrical switch mounted on said valve bodyhaving a movable contact forming a part thereof which is operable whenin the closed circuit position to effect simultaneous energization ofsaid valve means and said heater means, motion translation meansintermediate said movable contact and said poppet valve operable to movesaid poppet valve to a port open position when said movable contact ismoved to an open circuit position, and means for effecting movement ofsaid movable contact as a function of the temperature of fluid withinsaid chamber.

4. A fluid control valve comprising a valve body having a fluid chamberand having inlet and outlet ports opening to said chamber adjacent oneend thereof, a movable wall defining a portion of said chamber andmovable to vary the volumetric capacity thereof, valve means at saidinlet port being energizable to permit fluid flow there through, apoppet valve cooperable with the upstream side of said outlet portnormally disposed in a port-closing position by the pressure of fluid insaid chamber, heater means associated with said chamber for heating thefluid contained therein, an electrical switch mounted on said valve bodyhaving a movable contact forming a part thereof which is operable whenin the closed circuit posi tion to effect simultaneous energization ofsaid valve means and said heater means, motion translation meansintermediate said movable contact and said poppet valve operable to movesaid poppet valve to a port-open position when said movable contact ismoved to an open circuit position, thermal sensitive power means mountedwithin said valve body in heat transfer relation with the fluidcontained within said chamber having an element extensible therefromupon predetermined ambient temperature conditions therearound, and amechanical transducer interconnecting said element with said movablecontact to effect movement of said movable contact as a function of thetemperature of fluid within the said chamber.

5. A fluid control valve comprising a ported body having inlet andoutlet ports opening therethrough, a cylinder sealed to said body withits interior in communication with said ports, a piston slidablydisposed within said cylinder, a sealing ring mounted on said piston andengaging the wall of said cylinder, spring means biasing 9 said pistontoward said body, valve means at said inlet being energizable to permitfluid flow therethrough, a poppet valve cooperable with the upstreamside of said outlet port normally disposed in a port closing position bythe pressure of fluid Within said chamber, heater means associated withsaid chamber for heating the fluid contained therein, an electricalswitch mounted on said valve body having a movable contact forming apart thereof which is operable When in the closed circuit position toeffect simultaneous energization of said valve means and said heatermeans, and motion translation 5 fluid contained within said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,612,296 Campbell et al Sept. 30, 1952 r 2,824,585 Andres Feb. 25, 19582,867,354 Tanzola et a1. Jan. 6, 1959

